The next morning, the Imperial Academy of Asteria seemed unusually quiet. Kael had barely slept. The discovery from the previous night kept returning to his mind: the hidden staircase beneath Asteria, the stone door, the symbol carved into its center, and above all, the inscription he had not yet dared to touch. The chamber shall open only to the one who bears the Void. He still had no idea what was behind that door. But one thing was certain. Someone had built that place long before he was born. And someone had intended for a person like him to find it someday. Kael dressed slowly before leaving his room. He had barely stepped into the corridor when a student approached him. — Kael Veyron? Kael stopped. The student held out an envelope bearing the Academy's seal. — The director wishes to see you in his office. Kael took the envelope. — Now? — Yes. The student immediately walked away. Kael stared at Alaric D'Aster's seal for a few seconds before putting the envelope away. He already knew this summons was not an ordinary one. --- The director's office was located inside one of Asteria's oldest towers. Kael climbed the stairs until he reached the top floor, then stopped in front of the large dark wooden door. He knocked. — Come in. Kael opened the door. Alaric was standing behind his desk. Lucian was sitting in an armchair near the window. Neither of them was smiling this time. Kael closed the door behind him. — You wanted to see me? Alaric gestured toward the chair in front of his desk. — Sit down. Kael took his seat. His gaze moved from the director to his uncle. — It's about the chamber? Alaric exchanged a glance with Lucian. — Partly. Kael waited. Lucian eventually sighed. — You found the entrance to the lower sector. It wasn't a question. Kael nodded. — Yes. — With Noah and Lysandra? — Yes. Lucian ran a hand through his hair. — Of course. Kael frowned slightly. — You knew it existed? Lucian didn't answer immediately. Kael watched his face. He knew his uncle well enough to understand that he was choosing his words carefully. Finally, Lucian answered: — I knew there was a lower sector. Kael remained still. — Since when? Lucian looked toward the window. — Since before your parents died. Kael's expression changed. Only slightly. But the dark red of his eyes seemed to become more intense for a brief moment. — And you never told me. Lucian lowered his gaze. — No. Kael remained silent. Then he asked: — Why? Lucian took a few seconds before answering. — Because you were ten. — That's not an answer. — It is. Kael stared at him. Lucian met his gaze. — At ten years old, you had just lost your parents. You already had more than enough to deal with without me telling you about a forbidden sector, ancient research, and an inheritance that nobody truly understood. Kael looked away slightly. — So you knew they were conducting research. — I knew they were looking for something. Alaric quietly intervened. — And that's precisely what we need to show you. He opened a drawer in his desk and pulled out a thick file. The cover was old. The leather had faded with time, and several corners were damaged. A symbol was visible on the first page. The same one. Kael reached for it. But Alaric gently placed his fingers on the file. — Before you read this, you need to understand something. Kael looked up. — What? — This document should never have left the Imperial Council's archives. Kael didn't move. — Then why is it here? Alaric removed his hand. — Because I'd rather you learn about it from us than from someone who might use the truth against you. Kael took the file. He opened it. The first page contained a list of names. Several had been crossed out. Others were barely legible. Then he saw one. Elarion Vaelmont. Kael continued reading. Principal researcher responsible for the experimental studies conducted at the Imperial Academy of Asteria. Further down: Research subjects: anomalies in mana circulation, energy cancellation phenomena, and unknown magical inheritances. Kael stopped. — Energy cancellation... Lucian nodded. — Yes. Kael turned the page. A map of Asteria appeared. The lower sector was clearly marked. Several handwritten notes surrounded it. Restricted access. Research suspended. Incident. Kael slowly ran his finger over the last word. — What incident? Alaric answered: — That's one of the parts that disappeared from the official archives. Kael looked up. — Disappeared? — Several pages were removed. — By whom? Alaric didn't answer immediately. Then: — The Imperial Council. Kael slightly closed the file. — Why? — We don't know everything. Kael looked at Lucian. — And you? Lucian remained silent. Kael understood. — You know something. Lucian slowly exhaled. — Your father told me about it. This time, Kael straightened slightly. — When? — A few weeks before he died. The silence became heavy. Kael stared at his uncle. — What did he tell you? Lucian looked at the file. — He asked me if I'd ever heard of Asteria's old research. — And? — I told him I had. — Then what? Lucian hesitated. — He told me he'd discovered something in Lorn Forest. Kael became completely still. His eyes had grown slightly more intense. — What? — He never told me. — Why? — Because he believed someone was listening. Kael lowered his gaze toward the file. His father's letter immediately came back to him. If they discover what we found, they will kill us. His fingers tightened slightly. — So he knew he was being watched. Lucian nodded. — I believe so. — And you never told me any of this. Kael's voice remained calm. But his eyes no longer were. Lucian looked at him with quiet sadness. — I should have told you sooner. Kael didn't answer. Alaric remained silent for a moment before taking another document from the file. — There's something else. Kael looked up. Alaric placed the document in front of him. It was a list of researchers. Several names were accompanied by dates. Some had been crossed out. Others hadn't. Kael read through the list. Then stopped. — They're still alive? Alaric nodded. — Some of them. Kael stared at the names. — How many? — Enough for us to consider this matter still active. Silence. Kael turned another page. A handwritten note appeared at the bottom. Any manifestation of the Void Inheritance must be immediately reported to the Imperial Council. His expression hardened. — They knew. Lucian answered: — Some people knew that such a power existed. — And they knew it was connected to the Veyrons. — Yes. Kael remained silent. There were now too many pieces for him to continue believing in coincidences. The symbol. Lorn Forest. The research. The chamber beneath Asteria. His father's letter. And now, his own power. Everything seemed connected. But one piece was still missing. Why had his parents died? Kael raised his eyes. — Do you still believe their deaths were an accident? Alaric didn't answer. Neither did Lucian. The silence was enough. Kael understood. — So you never believed it. Lucian slowly shook his head. — No. Kael lowered his gaze. For several seconds, nobody spoke. Then Alaric continued: — We recently discovered something else. Kael looked up. — What? — Someone has used one of the old passages beneath Asteria. Kael's eyes immediately focused on him. — When? — Very recently. — How do you know? — A trace of mana was found near a door that hadn't been opened in years. Kael remained still. — The chamber? Alaric shook his head. — No. He paused. — But it is connected to the same network of passages. Kael closed the file. — Someone is still looking for something beneath Asteria. — It's possible. — And you don't know who. — Not yet. Kael stood. Lucian watched him. — You're going back there. It wasn't a question. Kael looked at his uncle. — Yes. Lucian sighed. — I thought so. Alaric stood as well. — This time, Kael, you won't search alone. Kael remained silent for a few seconds. Then he answered: — I wasn't planning to. A faint smile finally appeared on Lucian's face. — Noah and Lysandra? — Yes. — At least you've chosen your companions well. Kael raised an eyebrow. — You barely know them. — Noah talks enough to make it feel like we've known him for ten years. Kael looked away slightly. — That's true. Alaric let out a quiet laugh. But his expression quickly became serious again. — Kael. The young man turned toward him. — Be careful who you choose to trust. Kael remained silent. Alaric continued: — Some of the people involved in the old research are still present in the political, academic, or military world. — And some of them know what my parents discovered. — Probably. Kael looked at the file one last time. Then he picked it up. — Can I keep it? Alaric hesitated. — Temporarily. Kael nodded. He headed toward the door. But before leaving, he stopped. — Director. Alaric looked up. — What? Kael turned slightly. — What do you know about my father that I don't? Silence filled the room. Lucian looked at Alaric. The director remained still for several seconds. Then he simply answered: — More than I would like. Kael stared at him. — And you'll tell me? Alaric held his gaze. — When I'm certain the truth won't lead you directly to the people who hid it. Kael said nothing. He opened the door. — Then I'll keep searching. He left the room. The door closed behind him. --- In the corridor, Kael remained still for a few seconds. The file was still in his hand. He looked down at its cover. The symbol seemed almost different now that he knew what it represented. Not simply an ancient mark. Not simply a forgotten inheritance. Someone had spent years studying it. Someone had wanted to hide it. And his parents had probably been killed because they had gotten too close. Kael slowly raised his head. His scarlet eyes seemed to glow faintly. For the first time in six years, he was no longer trying to determine whether his parents' deaths had been an accident. He now knew they probably hadn't been. All that remained was to discover who had decided to make them disappear. At the end of the corridor, a silhouette passed in front of a window. Kael immediately turned his head. But there was already no one there. He watched the spot for several seconds. Then he murmured: — I'll find you eventually. And somewhere beneath Asteria, behind a door no one was supposed to be able to open, something had begun to stir.

What Lucian Knew